'If you get extorted by organized crime, you’re called a victim. But if you’re extorted by a public official, you’re called a defendant.' — Susan Kellman, lawyer for Lawrence Carr (above), who is accused of paying off Hiram Monserrate Photo: Ben Parker

Hiram Monserrate (James Messerschmidt)

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An amusement company has been charged with participating in a pay-to-play game by bribing disgraced former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate for help in getting permits to run carnivals, sources told The Post.

Monserrate is already under indictment for allegedly using a nonprofit organization, the Latino Initiative for Better Resources & Empowerment, to funnel taxpayer money for campaign use when he was a city councilman.

The new charges are in an indictment charging Carr with bribery.

The Florida man, 70, who operates Lawrence Carr Amusements, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $200,000 bail.

Politicians are sometimes paid off to persuade community organizations to apply for permits necessary to run carnivals, the sources said.

Carr’s lawyer, Susan Kellman, claims her client was shaken down.

“If you get extorted by organized crime, you’re called a victim. But if you’re extorted by a public official, you’re called a defendant,” she said.

Carr’s firm operates up and down the East Coast.

The Midland Beach Civic Association in Staten Island nixed Carr’s bid last year, citing trash, unruly crowds and rude workers. The company’s safety record has been criticized around the country.

The bribery indictment alleges that in March 2006, a public official “wrote a letter in support of [Carr’s] application to conduct business.” A month later, Carr was granted permission to operate his carnival from April 13 through 30, 2006, the indictment says.

Authorities say Carr then endorsed a $5,000 check to a nonprofit, which a source identified as Monserrate’s group, LIBRE.

State records show a Malinda Carr, who shares the an address with Lawrence Carr, wrote a $4,000 check to United for Monserrate on April 20, 2006.

In June 2006, the same official wrote a letter supporting Carr’s application to run a carnival.

Subsequently, Carr was given permission to operate his carnival from July 7 through 16, 2006, the indictment says. Later in July, Carr endorsed an additional $7,500 in checks to the nonprofit linked to the official, the indictment says.

The Post’s sources said the official in question was Monserrate, who has not been charged in the case.

Monserrate was arrested in 2008 for assaulting his girlfriend. But she stuck by him and testified that it was all an accident. He was convicted only of misdemeanor assault, but it resulted in his getting tossed from the Senate.